(BROWNSVILLE, Texas) – Former Customs and Border Protection inspector Guadalupe Garza, 64,has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for alien smuggling and bribery, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. Garza was convicted in December of last year following his guilty plea to bringing in a certain alien into the United States for private financial gain and for accepting a bribe in his capacity as a government official.

The evidence at sentencing proved that Garza had allowed others to bring in illegal aliens into the United States for commercial advantage and financial gain. As a public official, that is, an officer with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Garza corruptly demanded, sought, received and accepted things of value, including approximately $7,500 in cash, to influence an official act - to allow illegal aliens to enter the United States.

Garza’s sentence includes upward adjustments or increases in his calculated sentencing guideline range because he was a public official, received more than one bribe, received more than $5,000 in bribes, was in a high level or sensitive position and used his position as a public official to facilitate the illegal entry into United States of a person.

This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro.